Drive control mechanism for windows



June 2, l942. F. Y. GATES' DRIVE coNTRL MECHAN'ISMAFOR wINDQWs FiledIeb. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented June Z, 1942 geen? DRIVE CONTROLMECHANISM FOR WINDOWS Y Franklin Y. Gates, Salt Lake City, UtahApplication February 9, 1939, Serial No. 255,541

(ci. 19a-s) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a window regulator and mechanism for operatingthe same, although the clutch is not necessarily restricted thereto. Theprincipal' objects of the invention are to provide:

First. A mechanism adapted for operating a window regulator largely usedin automobiles, which allows the window to be raised and lowered in thecustomarymanner, but at the same time, can be operated so as to causethe window to move in one direction, preferably down, instantaneously.

Second. A mechanism in which the manufacturing cost is reduced to aminimum.

Third. A window regulator and mechanism which is applicable to modernautomobiles without requiring any change in the customary door andwindow design or details. v

Fourth. A mechanism that is positive in its holding action but which isjust as positive in releasing its holding action in one direction.

In thev drawings,

Fig. 1 represents an elevation of an auto-mobile window regulator viewedfrom the inside, parts being broken away for convenience;

Fig. 2, a plan, largely in horizontal section, taken on the line 2 2 inFig. 1;

Fig. 3, a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, but drawn toa scale considerably enlarged;

Fig. 4, a section taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a section taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4; and

VFigs. 6 and 7, fragmentary vertical sections taken on the lines 6-6 and1 1 in Fig.Y 3, parts in the background being omitted.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral indicates an arm that is movableup and down for the purpose of moving an automobile window accordingly,the arms being of the proper length and having means (not shown) forengaging the window at its free extremity in the usual manner.

The arm may be rigidly attached to a gear sector 2|, and both the armand the sector may be rigidly mounted on a stub shaft 24 which may beshouldered, and journaled at 23, all in the customary manner.

A spiral spring 25 may have its inner end engaged in a slot 26, and itsouter end engaged by a stop 2l, so that when the spring is Wound up, itreacts .to revolve the arm 2li, in the'present instance in the directionof the arrow 28, which moves the window down. The upper position of thearm is indicated at 25, and the lower position is indicated in dottedlines at ZQ-L In mesh with the gear sector 2| is a pinion 29 which inturn is rotatable on a shaft 30, as well as being journaled in a collar3|. The collar is held stationary in a protruding portion 32 whichhcusesthe pinion 29 and preferably forms an integral part of a frame 22.Rigidly mounted on the pinion29 is a cup 34, and disposed within the cupis a coiled lock spring 35. This spring exerts its expansive force tonormally cause the outside of the coils thereof to frictionally grip theinside cylindrical surface of the cup. The spring 35 has the inwardlyprojecting hooks 36 and 31 at the two extremities of the coil and spacedapart angularly from each other, as indicated in Fig. 4. Rigidly mountedon the shaft 35, for example by welding, is a lock release member 38which may have an arcuate projection or wing 39 disposed concentricallywithin the lock coil 35, its curved face however, being free at alltimes from contact with the inside of the coil so that when the shaft 30is slightly rotated, in this instance clockwise with reference to Fig.4, the lock-release member engages the projection 3l and exerts itsreleasing capacity to slightly contract the coil 35, thereby releasingthe coil and the cup 34 instantly from the normal frictional engagementwith each other, and allowing the spring 25 to bring the arm 20 down.

At 4U is a member having the varcuate projections or wings 4il| and40--2, these being angularly spaced apart from one another. The outercurved faces of the wings 4ll| are in close proximity to, but alwaysfree from, the inside surface of the lock coil 35, while the wings 40--2are close to, but always free from the inside of another lock coil 4|.One of the wings dil-I has limited angular motion between the hooks 35and 31 of lock coil 3'5, and one of the wings dil-2 has limited angularmotion between hooks 42 and 43, which project inwardly from the lockcoil 4| and are angularly spaced apart from each other. Moving the wing4|l| against either of the hooks 36 or 31 expands and locks the coil 35frictionally within the rotatable cup 34; and similarly, moving the wing40-2 against either one of the hooks 42 or 43 causes the lock springcoil 4| to expand, and thereby to frictionally engage the interiorcylindrical surface of a stationary housing 45. The housing 45 may havethe circular flange 45 `by means of which it may be rigidly attached tothe frame 22.

A member 4l, having the arcuate wing portions 4'|-| loosely encircled bythe lock spring 4|, isrotatably mounted on the shaft 3U by means of theintermediate sleeve 48. This sleeve has the squared head 43| whichengages the member 47, and the latter has a squared opening into whichthe head 48| fits snugly. Therefore, a rotation of the sleeve 48 carrieswith it the driver 41. Normally, the lock coil 4| is disposed to exertan expansive force which causes the coil to remain in frictionalengagement with the stationary housing 45. 4'|--| are in close proximityto the respective The wing portions Y hooks 42 and 43 of the lock coil4|, but when the member 41 is rotated in one direction or the other,either the hook 42 or the hook 43 as the case may be, is engaged by therespective wing 41-I, which causes the lock 4| to be contracted andtherefore to release its frictional hold within the stationary housing.

The shank 48-2 of the sleeve 48 is squared to receive the hub 49| of ahandle 49, while the sleeve itself is freely rotatable n the stem '39. Abutton 58 held fast on the shaft 38, for eX- ample by means of a pin maybe ,grasped manually to rotate the shaft 39.

The window regulator frame 22 is supported by mounting it on a fixedportion (not shown) of an automobile door in the usual manner. When Asomounted, the regulator occupies a position spaced somewhatl apart fromthe usual inside upholstered wall 52, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. Theshouldered portion 49-2 of the hub 49| Ybears against an escutcheon 53,the latter providing a finish between the hub and the wall 52. It willbe noted in Fig. 5 that a pin 5| which holds the button 50 on the shaft39, is normally hidden by the front portion of the hub. In order to putthe pin 5| in place when assembling, it is necessary that the hub bepushed back sufliciently to clear the hole into which the pin fits. Thismay `be easily accomplished because the upholstered wall 52 is ilexibleand may be pushed slightly u inward when corresponding pressure isapplied to the hub, since a space 54 between the hub and the sleeve 48allows the hub to slide inwardly on the sleeve. In order however, tokeep the upholstered wall 52 normally pressed snug against the shoulder49-2 of the hub, a conical compression spring 56 is provided; this maybear again the flange 46 and react against the flexible upholstered wall52.

In operation an automobile window may be raised or lowered in the usualmanner, by turning the handle 49 clockwise 'or counterclockwise as thecase may require. handle is rotated clockwise to move the window downand counterclockwise to move the window up. To accomplish theinstantaneous opening of the window, the button 5U is slightly rotated,in this instance clockwise, as noted hereinbefore, the handle 49remaining stationary.

In accomplishing these results the mechanism in the present instance,functions as follows: Turning the handle 49 counterclockwise causes thelef-t wing 41-| of the driver 41, Fig. 4, to contact the hook 42, and solong as the turning motion pressure continues, the lock coil 4| rotatesfreely within the stationary cup 45. The moment however, that pressureon the handle is relaxed, the lock coil 4| expands to its normal lockingposition, and holds the window stationary at the corresponding point ofits travel, while the potential energy of the spring accentuates thelocking tendency. Turning the handle 49 clockwise, causes the right wingi1-I of the driver 41, to contact the hook 43, thereby releasing thelock coil 4| so as to rotate accordingly until pressure on the handle 49is relaxed, at which time the coil 4| expands and the window is heldstationary as previously described.

A slight turn, in this instance clockwise, of the wing 39 of the member38, as indicated in Fig. 4, causes the wing to move to the left intocontact with the hook 31 of the lock coil 38. Further movement of thewing 39 exertsl a push on the hook 31, thereby contracting the coil 38slightly and causing the release of its grip upon the rotat- In thisinstance the able cup 34. Since the cup is integral or rigid withrespect to the pinion 29, and since this pinion when held stationary,offers the only opposition to the tensioned uncoiling of the motivespring 25, the aforesaid release of the coil 38, frees the spring 25 toinstantly move the arm 28 down, and consequently to also move down, awindow to which the arm may be attached.

Summarizing the invention and its operation:

The handle 49 mayV be regarded as a prime mover, and the pinion 29 as adriver rigid with respect to the prime mover. The rigidity between thetwo, however, may be regarded as breakable by means of a compound coilmechanism comprising in this instance, two mutually opposeddouble-acting gripping devices, one the coil 4|, and the other the coil35, the break being elfected selectively by means of the lock releasemechanism, the operation of which has just been described.

Normally, the compound coil mechanism, in the positions of its parts asherein illustrated, holds pinion 35 locked with respect to the rotativeurge of spring 25. This is because the spring through gear sector 2|,tends to turn the pinion, in this instance, counterclockwise, andtherefore to urge wing 49-2, Fig. 4, against coil 43, locking the latteragainst stationary housing 45.

The manner of transmitting rotary motion in unison from the prime moveror handle 49 to the driver or pinion 29, will presently be followedthrough in continued narrative, first keeping in mind, however, thathandle 49, sleeve 48, member 48 and pinion 29 with its rigid cup 34, areall rotatable with respect to shaft 30, while lock release member 36 isthe only part that is `fast on shaft 39. Handle 49 and member 48 areboth fast on sleeve 48. Housing 45 and its protruding portion 32 withcollar 3|, are stationary. Sleeve 48 is journaled in housing 45, andpinion 29, in collar 3|.

Now, if sufficient counterclockwise rotative urge is applied to handle49, Fig. 1, to overcome the tension of spring 25, and if rotation of thehandle is continued, the righthand wing 41| on member 41, moves againsthook 43. This frees coil 4| from housing 45 and rotation of handle 49continues. Meanwhile hook 43 bears against wing 49-2 and since wing 49|is integral with wing 49-2, and the latter bears against hook 36,locking coil 35 in cup 34, pinion 29 receives power to move gear 2|against the tensions of spring 25, thus winding the latter and raisingarm 28.

If on the other hand, clockwise rotative urge is applied to handle 49,the left wing l1-l on member 41 moves against hook 42. This, again freescoil 4| from housing .45, while continued rotation of handle 49 moveshook 43 away from lower wing 49-2, and hook 42 against the opposite sideof lower wing 48-2. Continued clockwise rotation of handle 49, moveswing 49| against hook 31, again locking coil 35 in cup 34, but causingcup 34 and its integral pinion 29 to rotate clockwise instead ofcounterclockwise as before. This lowers arml 29.

While a specific embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed, it isto be clearly understood that changes in the details thereof can be madewithout departing from the terms of the following claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, rotatable spring motive means tending to rotate ashaft in one direction.

and a brake device normally operative to prevent rotation of the saidspring motive means, the said brake device comprising a stationary cup,a lock coil normally locked in the cup, rotatable means operative ineither direction to selectively release the said lock coil from thestationary cup,

a rotatable cup, another lock coil normally locked in the rotatable cup,connecting means normally interlocked between the two lock coils,rotatable means connecting the rotatable cup to the said motive means,and means selectively operative to release the second-mentioned lockcoil from the rotatable cup.

2. In combination, rotatable means including a cup, operable to turn ashaft against a potential counter-force, a lock coil normally locked inthe said rotatable cup, a stationary cup substantially concentric withthe rotatable cup, another lock coil normally locked in the stationarycup, connective means whereby the two said lock coils are normallyinterlocked with each other in pposition to the said potentialcounter-force, a driver rotatable in either direction and selectivelyoperable to release thesecond-mentioned lock coil from the stationarycup and to drive the first-mentioned coil accordingly, and releasingmeans selectively operable to release the firstmentioned lock coil fromthe rotatable cup.

3. A clutch mechanism, including in combination, a stationary cup, alock coil normally locked therein, a rotatable cup substantiallyconcentric with the stationary cup, a lock coillocked in the rotatablecup, motive means exerting a potential force to rotate the rotatablecup, the first-mentioned lock coil being effective to normally preventsuch rotation, and releasing means operative to selectively release therotatable cup from the second-mentioned lock coil.

4. A clutch mechanism, including in combination, a rotatable cup, a lockcoil normally locked therein, another lock coil concentric with themst-mentioned lock coil, a stationary cup in which the second-mentionedlock'coil is normally locked, interlocking means between the two saidlock coils, and means operative to selectively release thefirst-mentioned lock coil from the rotatable cup.

5. A control mechanism, including in combination, driven means rotatablein either direction, clutch means normally engaging the driven means,brake means in operative proximity to the first-mentioned clutch means,interlocking means effective to releasably connect the rstmentionedclutch means to the brake means; stationary means normally engaged bythe brake means, driving means selectively operative to engage the brakemeans so as to rotate the same in either direction, and a lock releasedevice operative to selectively free the driven means from therst-mentioned clutch means.

6. A clutch, including in combination, a stationary cup, a lock coilexpansively tensioned against the inside of the cup; a rotatable cup,another lock coil expansively tensioned against the inside of therotatable cup, and rotative means operative clockwise orcounterclockwise to unlock the iirst-mentioned coil from the stationarycup, and simultaneously to rotate the second-mentioned cup with thesecond-mentioned coil locked therein, in the corresponding direction.

7. A clutch, including in combination, a lock coil, a structure in whichthe coil is releasably locked; another lock coil, another structure inwhich the second-mentioned coil is releasably locked, and means rotativeclockwise or counterclockwise to release therst coil from its lockingstructure, and simultaneously, to accentuate the corresponding lockingof the second-mentioned coil with the second-mentioned structure.

8. A clutch, including `in combination, a stationary cup, a lock coilnormally locked therein, a rotatable cup, another lock coil normallylocked in the rotatable cup; interlocking means operatively disposedbetween the two said lock coils, and means operative to release the saidrotatable cup selectively from the second-mentioned lock coil.

9. A window regulator having av rotatable driver, a cup integraltherewith, a lock coil disposed to normally grip the said cup, a lockrelease operative to selectively release Jhe'grip of the lock coil onthe cup, a driven member normally tending to accentuate the locking ofthe coil to the said cup, a second lock coil tending normally to belocked by the driven member, a stationary cup within which the secondlock coil is normally locked, and a second driven member directlyconnected to the driver, the rst driven member being selectivelyrotatable in either direction to release the second lock coil fromlocking with the stationary cup, and through the iirst lock coil, randsimultaneously, to impart corresponding motion to the second'drivenmember. V

10. A window regulator having a rotatable member, a lock coil normallylocked to the said rotatable member', a second lock coil, a stationarymember to which the second lock coil is normally locked, connectingmeans between the two lock coils whereby they may be selectively lockedto each other or selectively released from each other, and a releasingdevice selectively operative to free the irst-mentioned lock coil fromthe said rotatable member.

11. VA control mechanism, including in c ombination, driving meansrotatable in both directions; lock coil means, and stationary means inwhich the lock coil means is normally locked, the said driving meansbeing disposed to selectively engage the said lock coil means in eitherdirection for'releasing the same from the stationary means; driven meansin operative proximity to the said driving means, means including asecond lock coil normally acting to interlockthe driven with the drivingmeans, andrelease means selectively operative to release the second lockcoil means from engagement with the driven means.

12H. A control mechanism, including in combination, rotatable drivingmeans, rotatable driven means, and lock coil means selectivelyoperative, and comprising a lock normally holding thedriving means andthe driven means stationary relative to each other; a releasing devicefor permitting the lock coil means to be rotatable clockwise orcounterclockwise and to simultaneously impart corresponding motion tothe'driven means; and holding means disposed to normally hold the drivenmeans stationary, and also adapted to be operated, to release the drivenmeans so as to permit the latter to rotate independently of the drivingmeans.

FRANKLIN Y. GATES.

